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Friday, August 08, 2014

Waterbury Man Charged With Illegal Gun Possession

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of
Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven returned
an indictment today charging CHRISTOPHER BYAN COLEMAN, 25, of Waterbury, with
possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

As alleged in the complaint that was previously filed in
this case, on April 22, 2014, officers from the Waterbury Police Department
responded to a complaint of a disturbance at 1298 N. Main Street in Waterbury.
There, the complainant told police that her car had broken down and, while she
was awaiting assistance, a male had attempted to gain entry to her vehicle. As
one of the officers drove up to the male, who was later identified as COLEMAN,
the officer observed COLEMAN remove a firearm from his waist area and throw it
over a chain link fence. Officers then recovered an RG14 .22 caliber revolver
with an obliterated serial number, loaded with six rounds, three of which were
live and three of which were expended.

Prior to that date, it is alleged that COLEMAN had sustained
felony convictions. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously
convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved
in interstate or foreign commerce.

If convicted, COLEMAN faces a maximum term of imprisonment
of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 in fines. He has been detained since
his arrest on April 22.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Waterbury Police Department. This
case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not
evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.